The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Lobbying Organisation The Irish Farmers' Association - IFA

Date published 17 May, 2026

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area EU Affairs

Period 1 Jan. 2026 to 30 Apr. 2026

Specific Details Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) 2023-2027 - Mid-Term Evaluation

Intended results To emphasise that to improve the efficiency and use of the policies and allow them to better deliver on the objectives set, there is a need for simpler rules and regulations for both farmers and administrations. That processing times for many measures should be shortened in order to increase programme efficiency and provide farms with greater planning security. To stress that a further significant simplification of administrative processes and a reduction in record-keeping obligations are therefore necessary to reduce bureaucratic burden and make the programmes more accessible to all farms. The further development of digital application systems can also contribute to a long-term reduction of administrative workload, for example through pre-filled data, digital maps, and simplified amendment procedures. Proposed Amendments to Regulation (EU) 2021/2115 - (5) in Article 13(1), the following subparagraphs are added ‘Sites certified in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council* shall be deemed to comply with GAEC standards 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 listed in Annex III to this Regulation. Providing exemptions from GAECs should be established not only for organic farmers but also for those farmers involved in other sustainable production methods (e.g. integrated farming) and where governance structures exist. This would lead to making conditionality simpler for a broader category of farmers for the remaining years of CAP. - Sites designated Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) or Special Protection Areas (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive and Birds Directive, together with Natural Heritage Areas (NHA) per national legislation shall be deemed to comply with GAEC standards 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 listed in Annex III to Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council. The 2-crop rule needs to be removed entirely as it driving an exodus of smaller growers away from the tillage sector. The requirement for 3 crops should kick in at 50 hectares and above crops grown. GAEC1 Maintenance of Permanent Grassland GAEC2 Protecting Peatland & Wetland GAEC3 Ban on Burning of Arable Stubble except for plant health reasons GAEC4 Establishment of Buffer Strips along water courses GAEC5 Tillage Management to reduce risk of Soil Degradation & Erosion GAEC6 Minimum Soil Cover to avoid base soil in periods that are most sensitive GAEC7 Crop Rotation in Arable Land - Farmers whose area planted in arable/cereal crops is less 50ha shall be deemed to comply with the three-crop rule per GAEC standard 7 listed in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2018/848 of the European Parliament and of the Council*. The 2-crop rule shall be removed entirely. GAEC-2 Protection of Peatland/Wetlands - In terms of coverage and impact, Irish farmers are among the most exposed in the EU to GAEC-2 given approximately 18% of Ireland is defined as peatland, one of the highest shares in the EU, with higher concentrations in the Midlands and along the rural Western seaboard of Ireland. - It must be acknowledged and clearly recognised that these are mainly extensive family farm-run operations, across all farm sectors, who are the lifeblood of their local communities. No further restriction to on-farm activity should apply to GAEC-2 lands, and such farmers cannot be disadvantaged further. Any impact on farm operations will have wider socio-economic repercussions, and before any GAEC 2 standard is revised in Ireland, its economic impact must be clearly understood. GAEC-6 The requirement in Ireland under GAEC 6 to have an area equivalent to 30% lie-back when grazing forage/ catch crops with livestock has now totally phased out the sustainable practice of integrating livestock into cropping systems. This should be corrected. To highlight that the CAP ensures that farmers across the EU are supported according to the same objectives (in their three dimensions economic, environmental and social) and that distortions of competition between Member States are avoided. Economic Sustainability It's impossible to over-state how relevant CAP is to Irish farming. ?Close on €2bn/yr received to Irish farmers and rural communities ?Over C.120,000 beneficiaries across all sectors; sizes; regions ?Most would not be farming but for CAP receipts (see table) ? Offers stability as competitiveness eroded Environmental Sustainability Must meet Statutory Mandatory Requirements & Good Agricultural & Environmental Conditions to get paid - Irish farmers have strong track record participating in agri-environmental schemes (2.5 times the EU average) - C.97% of BISS applicants committed to eco-schemes – most attributing over 10% of their farm for ‘Space for Nature' - Nearly 54k farmers (40% of total) covering 1.5m hectares are in ACRES (well beyond anticipated) Area of land farmed organically has trebled to 248,000ha (>5% of land area) in recent years - Soil carbon increased on 67,000ha through Straw Incorporation Measure scheme Via TAMS, increased use of Low Emission Slurry Spreading – c.80% on dairy farms; c.40% on cattle farms - Appropriate farmland management & reduced risk of land abandonment on 118,000 holdings via ANC receipts - Genetic & Welfare improvements on 16,000 beef farms (430k cows) and 19,000 sheep farms through SCEP & SIS €60m Water EIP aims to improve water quality while also providing benefits for biodiversity and climate change. - €25m Breeding Waders EIP aims to help population recovery of one of Ireland's most vulnerable group of birds. - Farmers own and manage over half the national forest estate, and since 1980 account for over 80% of new planting That, to remain fully effective, the policy requires further simplification and improved funding to ensure that measures can be implemented effectively across the EU. To meet with Irish MEPs in Strasbourg to discuss the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) To meet with the Minister for Health to discuss the importance of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) proposal and Ireland taking over the Presidency of the EU at a significant point in the negotiations. To impress on the Minister the important role of agriculture and why the proposed cut to the CAP budget needs to be addressed within the overall budget allocation.

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Shane Whelan IFA Senior Policy Executive, Liam MacHale IFA Director of European Affairs, Rachel Moloney IFA Policy Executive, Noel Banville IFA European Policy Executive

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Submission (1)

Email (2-5)

Informal communication (2-5)

Meeting (2-5)

Social Media (2-5)

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Andrews MEP (European Parliament)

Barry Cowen MEP (European Parliament)

Billy Kelleher MEP (European Parliament)

Ciaran Mullooly MEP (European Parliament)

Cynthia Ní Mhurchú MEP (European Parliament)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister (Department of Health)

Kathleen Funchion MEP (European Parliament)

Luke Ming Flanagan MEP (European Parliament)

Lynn Boylan MEP (European Parliament)

Maria Walsh MEP (European Parliament)

Michael McNamara MEP (European Parliament)

Nina Carberry MEP (European Parliament)

Regina Doherty MEP (European Parliament)

Sean Kelly MEP (European Parliament)